Self-reported health related quality of life in children and adolescents with an eating disorder

A Wever; E van Gerner; J C M Jansen; B Levelink

doi:10.1186/s40359-024-01684-y

Self-reported health related quality of life in children and adolescents with an eating disorder

BMC Psychol. 2024 Apr 29;12(1):242. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01684-y.

Authors

A Wever¹, E van Gerner², J C M Jansen³, B Levelink⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX, Maastricht, The Netherlands. anne.wever@mumc.nl.
² Department of Primary care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Child and Youth Psychiatry, Postweg 88, 5915 HB, De Mutsaersstichting, Venlo, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Eating disorders in children and adolescents can have serious medical and psychological consequences. The objective of this retrospective quantitative study is to gain insight in self-reported Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of children and adolescents with a DSM-5 diagnosis of an eating disorder.

Method: Collect and analyse data of patients aged 8-18 years, receiving treatment for an eating disorder. At the start and end of treatment patients completed the KIDSCREEN-52, a questionnaire measuring HRQoL.

Results: Data of 140 patients were analysed. Children diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder all had lower HRQoL on multiple dimensions at the start of treatment, there is no statistically significant difference between these groups. In contrast, patients with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder only had lower HRQoL for the dimension Physical Well-Being. HRQoL showed a significant improvement in many dimensions between start and end of treatment, but did not normalize compared to normative reference values of Dutch children.

Conclusion: The current study showed that self-reported HRQoL is low in children with eating disorders, both at the beginning but also at the end of treatment. This confirms the importance of continuing to invest in the various HRQoL domains.

Keywords: Adolescents; Anorexia nervosa; Avoidant/Restrictive food intake disorder; Children; Eating disorder; Health Related Quality of Life.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anorexia Nervosa / psychology
Anorexia Nervosa / therapy
Child
Feeding and Eating Disorders* / psychology
Female
Health Status
Humans
Male
Quality of Life* / psychology
Retrospective Studies
Self Report*
Surveys and Questionnaires